(Publish from Houston Texas USA)

(By Mian Iftikhar Ahmed)

End of the American Century and the New Era of Global Resistance

The sixteenth of March, two thousand twenty-six, will be written in the annals of history in golden letters. This is the day the funeral of the American century was held in silence. No treaty was broken, and no declaration of war was made. One by one, everyone simply said no. The American president wrote on Truth Social that China, France, Japan, South Korea, Britain, and other countries should send warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz open. He claimed that many countries were sending warships. No one sent any. Britain said no. France said no. Germany said no. South Korea said no. Greece said no. Italy said no. the Netherlands said no. Spain said no. Portugal said no. Poland said no. Finland said no. Belgium said no. Canada said no. Australia said no. And China did not even answer the phone. The spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that all parties should immediately cease military operations. Their message was clear: hey Trump, this is your war, deal with it yourself. One by one, they all turned away, and the world changed. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held a press conference on Downing Street. He said in clear words that Britain would not be dragged into a wider war. Then he spoke a sentence that was a direct slap in Trump’s face. He said that if we are putting our forces at risk, they have at least the right to know that there is a legal basis and a clear plan. Then he turned up the heat, saying that some people jump into war without seeing the full picture. He said that this is not leadership, this is being dragged along. Hearing these words, the whole world was astonished. The British Prime Minister was telling the American president that you do not know leadership. You have been dragged, and we will not be dragged along with you. Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius adopted an even harsher tone. He said in clear words that this is not our war. We did not start it. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also refused any military role. French President Emmanuel Macron’s stance was even clearer. He announced that France would never participate in operations to open the Strait of Hormuz in the current situation. Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni declared the American-Israeli attacks to be outside the bounds of international law. Her Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said that the current European mission could not be extended to Hormuz. Spain’s Defense Minister Margarita Robles went so far as to declare this war illegal. She flatly refused to participate in any military mission. The statement by the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, will be written in golden letters on the pages of history. She said that no one wants to put their people at risk in the Strait of Hormuz. She stated in clear terms that this is not Europe’s war. She further added that there is no desire among member states to actively participate in military operations against Iran. This statement reflects the unified stance of all of Europe. Japan’s Prime Minister Sanaye Takachi said they had not made any decision about sending warships. Tokyo is reviewing legal and constitutional constraints. Australia’s Minister Catherine King gave a very short and clear answer. She said Australia would not send warships. Canada’s Foreign Minister Anita Anand also indicated no intention to participate in this action. She also objected that no consultation had taken place with them beforehand. Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Poland would not send troops to Iran because this conflict does not directly affect their security. Greece’s Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis emphasized a permanent and lasting solution instead of limited agreements. the Netherlands’ Prime Minister Rob Jetten deemed a reduction in regional tensions necessary before any mission. Belgium’s Prime Minister Bart De Wever confirmed in parliament that Belgium would not participate in any aggressive action with America and Israel. The American president, responding to Starmer’s statement, said that Starmer is no Churchill. Sitting on Air Force One, he told reporters that we did not need to help them in Ukraine. Ukraine is thousands of miles away from us. But we helped. Now we will see if they help us or not. Then he threatened that whether help comes or not, one thing I can say is we will remember. Hearing this sentence, the world realized that America was threatening its own allies. “We will remember” meant that whoever does not support us today will not be forgiven tomorrow. But the world responded to this threat with silence. And history is witness that the most powerful answer is silence. France’s Defense Minister said that France would maintain its defensive and protective position. Meaning, we will watch, but we will not fight your war. Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on ARD Television, will we soon become an active part of this conflict? He answered himself, saying I am skeptical. the Netherlands’ Foreign Minister warned that sending NATO warships would not solve the problem overnight and could cause dangerous escalation. The analysis by the European Union Institute for Security Studies clarified the situation greatly. Europe was not involved in this war. Europe is not participating in direct military actions. This war is completely different from Afghanistan or Iraq, because this time European countries are not involved. Europe is watching this war from a distance and with deep reservations. Edward Fishman from the Council on Foreign Relations told CNBC that the Trump administration did not consult with any European or Asian allies before the military action against Iran. These are the same allies who are far more dependent on Gulf oil imports than America. They started a war without asking and are now asking to share the cost. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius’s question will be remembered in history. He asked, what can a few European boats do together that the American navy cannot do itself? This question beautifully illustrates the incompetence of this entire conflict and the aversion of the allies. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi gave an interview to CBS. He said that the Strait of Hormuz is open as far as we are concerned. It is closed only for those enemies who have committed unjust aggression against our country and for their allies. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister sent a direct message to Starmer, saying we are not at war with Britain. But any participation in this war will be considered participation in American-Israeli aggression. This message was very clear: Iran does not consider Britain an enemy, but if Britain sides with America, then the situation will change.

Iran’s Diplomatic Weapon and India’s Way, The Human Tragedy and The Wider War Iran turned the Strait of Hormuz from a military weapon into a diplomatic weapon. Araghchi said that several countries have contacted them for safe passage. Iran is deciding who to let pass and who not to. Indian tankers passed through. Foreign Minister Jaishankar told the Financial Times that as a result of negotiations between New Delhi and Tehran, two Indian gas tankers passed through the Strait of Hormuz during the week. Without any warship. Without any military convoy. Just by talking. Meaning, India managed it by talking. America could not manage it by dropping bombs. China’s oil comes from Russia via land. It doesn’t even need Hormuz. China also emphasized a diplomatic solution and made no public commitment to immediately send warships. Russia is already standing with Iran. This is how Iran turned the Strait of Hormuz into a weapon that is closed only for enemies and open for friends. This was a highly humiliating moment for America. The world’s largest military power, alone, without asking anyone, without any plan, attacked a sovereign country. That country closed the world’s most important oil route. Oil is above one hundred dollars per barrel. The US Navy, the most powerful navy in the world, is unable to escort commercial ships in a safe convoy despite almost daily requests from the shipping industry. More than ten oil tankers have been attacked. And now the American president is begging the world for help, saying come help us. The most powerful navy in the world cannot get commercial ships through a narrow waterway. This sentence is the elegy of the American unipolar world. In nineteen forty-five, America gave the world a system. Made rules. Built institutions. Formed alliances. And told allies: follow our rules, and we will protect you. In nineteen ninety-one, when the Soviet Union collapsed, America emerged as the sole superpower. This bargain continued for thirty-five years. Trump broke the bargain. Broke the rules himself. Weakened the institutions himself. Humiliated the allies himself. And now that protection is needed, the allies said the bargain is over.

America and Israel launched coordinated military attacks against Iran on February twenty-eighth, two thousand twenty-six. This was no minor skirmish; it was a large-scale war. Both countries together carried out thousands of airstrikes on Iran. According to the Pentagon, over fifty thousand American troops are involved in this operation. According to Iranian officials, at least one thousand four hundred forty-four people have been killed and eighteen thousand five hundred fifty-one wounded in the American-Israeli attacks. These include hundreds of women and children. According to another report, over twelve hundred civilians were killed, including two hundred women and two hundred children under the age of twelve. In an American missile attack, a bomb hit an elementary school in Iran. Sixty-eight children were killed in that school. Seeing this scene, the eyes of the whole world became moist. The Pentagon has confirmed that thirteen American soldiers have been killed and over two hundred wounded in this war. In Israeli attacks in Lebanon, nine hundred civilians have been killed and over one million displaced. In Iranian retaliatory attacks, at least twenty-seven people have been killed in Gulf countries. In Iran, one hundred fifty-three health facilities and forty-three thousand homes have been destroyed or severely damaged. This conflict is no longer limited to Iran but has spread to Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and the Gulf countries. The statement by the EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas that no one wants to actively go into this war reflects the unified stance of all of Europe.

Starmer provided an emergency package of fifty million pounds to protect his citizens from the energy crisis. He clearly stated that a ceasefire is the fastest solution to the inflation crisis. Meaning, the British Prime Minister is saying that the real problem is not Hormuz, the real problem is Trump’s war. Stop the war, and Hormuz will open itself. And this is absolutely true. Iran closed Hormuz because bombs were dropped on it. If the bombing stops, Hormuz will open. But Trump does not want to stop the bombing. He said on Fox News that Iran wants to make a deal and I don’t want to because the terms are not good enough yet. Iran immediately denied having made any request for a deal.

The Beginning of a New World This “no” is not just about warships. This “no” is the declaration of the end of the American unipolar world. From nineteen forty-five to two thousand twenty-six, for eighty-one years, America ran the world. The dollar was the global currency. The US Navy was the guarantor of the seas. NATO was the shield of the West. The IMF and World Bank were instruments of American interests. The American veto was the final decision in the United Nations. And whenever America said “let’s go,” everyone went. They went in the Gulf War. They went in Afghanistan. They went in Iraq. Now they do not go. Because Trump did what no powerful ruler in history does: he humiliated the allies and then asked for help. For three years he mocked NATO. Imposed tariffs on Europe. Threatened Germany. Ignored France. Told Britain it was no Churchill. Imposed tariffs on Japan and South Korea. Called China the enemy of civilization. Threatened to buy Greenland. And now he is telling all of them: send warships, open Hormuz, join my war. Starmer said correctly: this is not leadership, this is being dragged along.

Trump attacked Iran like a bull entering a shop. No consultation. No planning. No exit strategy. Netanyahu provoked him, and Trump jumped in without thinking. Struck Khamenei. Dropped bombs on Tehran. Named it “Operation Epic Fury.” Thought it would be over in a few days. Eighteen days have passed. There is no sign of it ending. Iran is fighting. Hormuz is closed. Oil is sky-high. And the allies are fleeing. This is not the Iraq of two thousand three. Lies were told in Iraq too, but at least a “coalition” was built. Britain stood with Blair’s leadership. Australia joined. Powell gave a false briefing at the UN, but at least they sat and talked. This time nothing happened. No consultation. No coalition. No UN approval. No legal basis. Just the decision of an eighty-year-old man provoked by a seventy-six-year-old warrior. And now that the fire is lit, Trump is telling the world: come put it out. And the world is saying: you lit it, you put it out.

Trump threatened: we will remember. Europe replied silently: we will remember too. Ukraine is remembered. The tariffs are remembered. The humiliation of NATO is remembered. The threat against Greenland is remembered. Everything is remembered. This is the new world. In this world, America is still the most powerful, but it is alone. When power and loneliness exist together, power becomes meaningless. Because the meaning of power is not just the ability to drop bombs. The meaning of power is that when you call, people come. Today Trump called. No one came. The unipolar world does not end when a new power emerges. The unipolar world ends when people stop believing in the old power. Today is March sixteenth, two thousand twenty-six, and the world has stopped believing. Trump barged into Iran like a bull and smashed the shop. Now there is a pile of broken pottery, and the bull is telling the world: come clean up. The world has put down the broom and said: your shop, your bull, your mess. We did not break it, we will not pick it up. And this “no” is the new language of the world. America will have to understand this language. Because until now, America has only heard one language: yes. Today, the era of “no” has begun. And when the era of “no” begins, empires change. They always have.

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